BN pushing for redelineated boundaries in GE14

THE government is expected to table a motion on electoral boundary changes in the current parliamentary meeting, that began yesterday, and seek its passing before the meeting ends in December.

This means the 14th general election (GE14) is likely to be held next year, Nanyang Siang Pau reported yesterday.

It is understood that the top Barisan Nasional (BN) leadership has been talking about adopting the new electoral roll for GE14.

In fact, the Umno central leadership has already told division chiefs that the new electoral roll based on the redelineated boundaries will be used in the coming polls and told them to be fully prepared.

The daily learnt that at the latest BN supreme council meeting, BN component parties were told that an election this year is as good as ruled out.

A BN source said that since there is no addition of seats in the latest redelineation exercise, BN needs only a simple majority to get the motion passed.

“In October last year, the Selangor government challenged the Election Commis- sion’s redrawing of electoral boundaries in court. The case is expected to get priority hearing to ensure the motion on the redelineation exercise can be passed during this meeting and the changes to the electoral boundaries are gazetted before the election is called.”

The source pointed out that having GE14 before Chinese New Year, which falls in mid-February, will benefit BN.

This, it said, is based on the notion that the majority of Chinese voters support the Opposition, and many of the outstation Chinese voters will not return to their home towns to vote if it is held not long before the festival.